Colleges look to cut down on paper with Kindle

Six colleges and universities are participating in a pilot program using the Kindle for accessing textbooks.  Princeton University, the University of Virginia, Case Western Reserve University, Reed College, Pace University and Arizona State University are all testing the technology in select courses this fall.

In May, Amazon announced its launch of a new version of the Kindle (the Kindle DX) with a larger screen designed for textbook and periodical reading and a better web browser.  This pilot program is putting the new e-reader directly in the hands of its intended market.

The colleges are hoping the pilot program will lead to another way for them to increase their sustainability by reducing their use of printed paper.  Textbooks and other course materials will be made available online for the classes and students selected to use the Kindles.

This idea is great, but mainly because textbooks and course materials should be available electronically at all schools for all classes, whether they're accessed by a Kindle, a laptop or on a computer at the library.  It seems like that conversion is long overdue for textbook makers and universities.  The universities participating are ones that have a bit of influence, so let's hope that if they adopt electronic course materials, others will quickly join them.

via Green Inc.